Turnstone turn stones looking for food – they spend most of their time walking on the shore and climbing over rocks, picking out food from under stones & seaweeds
It is all in the name!
birds and birdwatch,
Rock Pipit.
A walk along Southampton Water to Ashlett Creek a fairly bright morning but with a bitter wind.
A Rock Pipit close to the shoreline. The rock pipit is a stocky pipit, a bit larger than a meadow pipit,(sizewise it is a bit smaller than a Starling.)
Garden visitors.
In the UK two frequent garden visitors on the bird feeder and bird tables are the Blue Tit and the Great Tit. Both these birds are common in the woodlands where I took these photographs.
Blue Tit.
Measurements:
Length:12cm Wingspan:18cm Weight:11g
Population:
UK breeding: 3,600,000 UK wintering:15 million
Great Tit.
Measurements:
Length:14cm Wingspan:24cm Weight:18g
Population:
UK breeding: 2,500,000
facts from RSPB.
Avocets.
Avocets have started arriving at Titchfield Haven for the start of the breeding season. About 20 birds were spotted today in the rain! All a far way off but as more arrive, I am hoping for some close photographs.
Curlew.
Curlew bird observation and facts. Today’s bird watching walk up the Hamble River gave some really good views of some Curlews. It is an easily recognizable bird by its size and downcurved bill.
The Curlew is a large wader (in fact it is the largest European wader). It is about the size of a female pheasant. They are ground-nesting birds on wet grasslands, farmland, heath and moors this can be miles away from the coast.
Some 140,000 birds winter in the UK with about 66,000 breeding pairs
I have added the call of a Curlew over the sound on my short film.
Grey & Green.
Some further Sanderlings pictures from Monday’s visit to the coast. The green of the seaweed adds a bit of colour to a dull grey day.
Friends.
As I was in Southampton this morning I just had to get another look for the Ring-necked Parakeets in one of the city parks.
After storm 3!
Another stormy night as the 3rd storm lashes the UK in as many days. Many trees are down on local roads and places closed. Titchfield Haven Nature Reserve remains closed since the end of last week as authorities need to check the trees are safe.
The Red Funnel Isle of Wight ferry was having a choppy crossing this morning. Some services were cancelled over the weekend.
A workforce was out repairing the seawall at Titchfield Harbour.
On the shore, Sanderlings were feeding at the water’s edge and out of the wind. Sitting down on the beach using one of the groynes as a windbreak I was able to take some pictures as the feed today clams seem to be on the menu.
The ringed bird is a regular bird that I see on Meon Shore.
Ducking around.
Gadwall were pairing up yesterday in force at Titchfield Haven lots of quacking and splashing. Over 25,000 birds are in the UK during the winter but only about 1,200 pairs remain in the summer.
House Sparrow.
Continued Reflections from my World. 